Local radio station hosting coloring event

June 13, 2013

From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, WXPI 88.5-FM Radio?is hosting a coloring party and contest at The Pajama Factory, 1307 Park Ave.

The event was organized by local artist and host of "The Art Party" on WXPI, Brian Spies. The event came about during a brainstorming session at one of the station's weekly staff meetings, originally modest in size, it has grown into a county-wide event and has the cooperation of area organizations ranging from CAPPA and The Center, to the YMCA?and the YWCA, and The Boy Scouts of America and The Girl Scouts of America, among others.

Station Manager Warren Earl and Event Coordinator Stephen Morse have pounded the pavement getting countless area businesses to provide support for the event, which will be the first of three events planned for the regions young people over the summer. Spies cited the absence of summer craft programs at Bruce Henry Park in Loyalsock, which he himself attended regularly as a child, as partially inspiring these events.

"Kids used to have creative outlets to express themselves in; those are missing and we want to bring them back," Spies said.

Part of WXPI's mission, as a community radio station, is to spread awareness of the positive opportunities available to the regions children and the event was a natural outgrowth of that mission, according to Spies, who also cited winning a drawing competition as a kid as an impetus for the second portion of the event.

The kids, who will be helping the radio station re-design their logo, will be broken into three ages - groups each of whom will produce five finalists to be chosen by the WXPI staff. These 15 designs will be posted on the WXPI Facebook page, where the public will select a winner in each age group, whose design will be featured across WXPI's new line of promotional materials.

"This shows the region's youth that if you work hard and do something positive, it can impact your life and the lives of those around you, which ultimately is what WXPI is all about," Spies said.

Children, ranging from preschool to eighth grade, are encouraged to register for the event online at www.wxpiradio.org (registration either prior to the event or day of is mandatory).

Presence of a parent for the duration of the event is required and food, beverages and other entertainment, ranging from face painting to live music, will be available.

More information is available at www.wxpiradio.org or by contacting the station at 398-0318.